Species‐specific welfare aspects of the main systems of stunning and killing of farmed Eels (Anguilla Anguilla)

SUMMARY Following a request from the European Commission, the Panel on Animal Health and Welfare was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on welfare aspects of the main systems of stunning and killing of farmed eels in the EU. A semi-quantitative risk assessment approach was used to rank the risks of poor welfare associated with the different commercially applied stunning and killing methods for eels. Areas of welfare concern were identified, as well as guidance for future research. The risk assessment was mainly based on expert opinion, due to the limited amount of quantitative and published peer reviewed data on the effects of the hazards associated with stunning and killing of eels. Pre-slaughter steps, immediately before stunning and killing, which had a direct impact on eel welfare were included in the risk assessment. Stunning and killing methods that are not commercially used in the EU were briefly described but excluded from the risk assessment. For eels there are four methods currently practised in the EU: 1. Whole body electrical stunning in water with desliming and evisceration; 2. Salt bath, desliming and evisceration; 3. Ammonia, washing and evisceration; and 4. Immobilization by exposure to ice (and salt), washing and evisceration. The most important hazards in the pre-slaughter stages were associated with unloading and poor water quality in the holding tank during lairage. Therefore, eel welfare is best served if they are slaughtered as soon as possible after arrival at he slaughterhouse. Currently there are no stunning methods commercially available that immediately induce unconsciousness in all eels until death. Based on the risk assessment, electrical stunning